Part of plane seat with covering fabric and assembly process of this part

ABSTRACT

A first object of the invention is an aircraft seat element comprising:  
     a rigid frame ( 1 ) having two substantially parallel lateral rods ( 2, 3 ) immovably attached rigidly at one of their ends ( 2   a,    3   a ) to a cross-member ( 4 ), the other end ( 2   b,    3   b ) of said rods being fixed in an articulated manner to a shaft ( 5 ), said shaft ( 5 ) being removable;  
     a tubular cloth ( 6 ) slipped over said frame ( 1 ) and forming the back piece of said seat element.  
     This seat element is characterized in that the cloth ( 6 ) used is an elastic cloth, the fibers of which have different stiffnesses depending on their direction.  
     Another object of the invention is the method for mounting said seat element.

[0001] The invention relates to an aircraft seat element having acovering cloth.

[0002] Existing conventional seat backs for aircraft seats comprise atubular structure with a back piece made of aluminium plate. A seat backcushion is positioned on this structure and the whole is covered with aprotective cover.

[0003] The weight of such a cushion can vary between 1 and 1.5 kg.

[0004] The object of the invention is to produce a lighter aircraft seatelement, with neither cushion nor sheet metal back piece, which ensurescomfort for the passenger.

[0005] To that end, a first object of the invention is a seat elementcomprising:

[0006] a rigid frame having two substantially parallel lateral rodsimmovably attached rigidly at one of their ends to a cross-member, theother end of said rods being fixed in an articulated manner to a shaft,said shaft being removable;

[0007] a tubular cloth slipped over said frame and forming the backpiece of a seat back and/or of a seat base.

[0008] The cloth used is an elastic cloth, the fibres of which havedifferent stiffnesses depending on their direction.

[0009] In one embodiment, the cloth used is a cloth with unidirectionalelasticity disposed so that the direction of the elastic fibres of saidcloth is horizontal, substantially perpendicular to the lateral rods ofthe seat back and/or of the seat base.

[0010] The tubular cloth can be produced in a single piece ofsubstantially rectangular shape, the lateral edges of which areassembled by assembling means.

[0011] The tubular cloth can comprise two pieces of cloth ofsubstantially rectangular shape assembled by their lateral edges so asto take the shape of said seat element.

[0012] The two pieces of cloth can for example be assembled by sewing.

[0013] Means of attachment to the articulation shaft of the seat elementcan be provided on the lower part of the tubular cloth, so that thelatter is stretched vertically on said frame.

[0014] In one embodiment, the seat element comprises a foam-linedprotective cover slipped over said tubular cloth.

[0015] The aluminium plate back piece is thus replaced by a cloth backpiece, while the cushion of the seat element is eliminated, which makesit possible to reduce the weight of said element and consequently theweight of the aircraft equipment.

[0016] Furthermore, the tubular cloth makes it possible to maintainadaptive shapes comfortable for the passenger. The cloth is stretched atthe front and the rear of the seat element, which makes it possible toavoid the passenger in the seat feeling knocks from the knees of thepassenger seated behind them.

[0017] A second object of the invention is a method for mounting a seatelement as described previously, comprising the steps consisting in:

[0018] slipping the tubular cloth over the rods of the frame by way ofthe ends of the rods opposite the cross-member, the articulation shaftof said seat element being removed, so that said ends opposite thecross-member of said rods are narrowed to facilitate the passage of thetubular cloth;

[0019] fixing the articulation shaft of said seat element onto said endsopposite the cross-member of said rods in order to move the latter apartand stretch the tubular cloth laterally;

[0020] fixing the tubular cloth onto the articulation shaft by means ofattaching said cloth in order to stretch the cloth vertically.

[0021] In one embodiment, the mounting method also comprises the stepsconsisting in:

[0022] slipping the foam-lined protective cover over the seat elementframe by way of the upper end thereof, the tubular cloth being in place;

[0023] closing the lower end of said protective cover by said protectivecover closure means.

[0024] Other objects and advantages will emerge in the course of thefollowing description, with reference to the accompanying drawings,given by way of non-limitative examples, in which:

[0025]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the frame of a seatelement, without the tubular cloth;

[0026]FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the frame of the seatelement covered with the tubular cloth;

[0027]FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the mounting of theprotective cover on the frame of the seat element with the tubularcloth;

[0028]FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic representations of the mounting of thecloth on the frame of the seat element;

[0029]FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a seat comprising a seatbase and a seat back covered with cloth.

[0030] The seat element according to the invention comprises:

[0031] a rigid frame having two substantially parallel lateral rodsimmovably attached rigidly at one of their ends to a cross-member, theother end of said rods being fixed in an articulated manner to a shaft,said shaft being removable;

[0032] a tubular cloth slipped over said frame and forming the backpiece of said seat element.

[0033] This seat element can be a seat back or seat base structure of anaircraft seat.

[0034] In the remainder of the description, a seat element forming aseat back structure is described in detail in FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0035] A seat element forming a seat base structure is similar to theseat back structure and will therefore not be described in furtherdetail.

[0036] The cloth used is an elastic cloth, the fibres of which havedifferent stiffnesses depending on their direction.

[0037] In one embodiment, the cloth used is a cloth with bidirectionalelasticity, the fibres of which have different stiffnesses depending ontheir direction according to the part of the body to be supported.

[0038] Thus, when the seat element is a seat back structure, in order tohave a good distribution of pressure of the back of the passenger on theseat back, it is necessary for the cloth to adjust itself to the shapethereof vertically and horizontally.

[0039] The cloth must then adopt substantially a concave shape inhorizontal cross-section, that is to say along the substantiallyhorizontal fibres perpendicular to the lateral rods, the concavity beingdirected towards the back of the passenger, and a substantially S shapealong a vertical cross-section, that is to say along the longitudinalfibres. To that end, the stiffnesses of the fibres of the cloth aredifferent and vary depending on the direction and position of thefibres.

[0040] When the seat element is a seat base structure, the cloth mustthen adopt a concave shape in both directions of the fibres.

[0041] In another embodiment, the cloth used is a cloth withunidirectional elasticity disposed so that the direction of the elasticfibres of said cloth is horizontal, substantially perpendicular to thelateral rods of the seat back and/or of the seat base.

[0042] With reference to FIG. 1, the seat back structure is described.

[0043] This structure comprises a rigid frame 1 having two substantiallyvertical lateral rods 2, 3 immovably attached rigidly at their upper end2 a, 3 a, to a cross-member 4.

[0044] These rods 2, 3 are substantially parallel to one another.

[0045] The rods 2, 3 and the cross-member 4 can consist of a singlecomponent or a number of components fixed to one another by appropriatemeans, for example by screws, by welding, or any other equivalent means.

[0046] The rods 2, 3 and the cross-member 4 can be solid or tubularcomponents made of a sufficiently rigid material so as not to deform inuse and to meet the required safety criteria for aircraft seats.

[0047] The lower ends 2 b, 3 b, of said rods 2, 3 are fixed in anarticulated manner to a shaft 5, said shaft being removable (FIG. 2).

[0048] The shaft 5 is for example fixed onto the rods 2, 3 by means ofscrews.

[0049] The seat back structure comprises a tubular cloth 6 slipped oversaid frame 1 in order to form the back piece of said seat back.

[0050] In the embodiment depicted, the cloth 6 used is a cloth withunidirectional elasticity disposed so that the direction of the elasticfibres of said cloth is horizontal, that is to say substantiallyperpendicular to the lateral rods 2, 3.

[0051] The tubular cloth 6 can thus adapt itself to the morphology ofthe passenger in order to ensure their comfort.

[0052] With reference to FIG. 1, the tubular cloth 6 comprises twopieces 6 a, 6 b of cloth of substantially rectangular shape assembled bytheir lateral edges so as to take the shape of the seat back.

[0053] One of the pieces of cloth 6 a, 6 b is for example directedtowards the passenger, the other piece of cloth being directed towardsthe seat situated behind the passenger.

[0054] In the embodiment depicted, the two pieces of cloth 6 a, 6 b areassembled by sewing.

[0055] Provision can however be made for the assembling to be carriedout by reversible means such as Velcro strips, zip fasteners, buttons,or any other similar means. The cloth can furthermore consist of asingle piece.

[0056] The cloth 6 can for example comprise a single substantiallyrectangular piece, the lateral edges of which are assembled byreversible assembling means 13 such as Velcro strips, zip fasteners,buttons or any other similar means.

[0057] The cloth 6 is then disposed on the seat back so that theassembling means 13 are disposed on the surface of the seat back whichis not in contact with the passenger.

[0058] The tubular cloth 6 has, on its lower part 7, situated inproximity to the shaft 5 when the cloth 6 is placed on the frame 1,means of attachment 8 to the articulation shaft 5 of the seat backstructure so that said tubular cloth is stretched vertically on saidframe 1.

[0059] The attachment means 8 can be reversible such as Velcro strips,zip fasteners, buttons, or any other similar means.

[0060] Once put in place on the frame 1, the cloth 6 therefore takes theshape thereof (FIGS. 2 and 5).

[0061] A substantially identical frame 1 can be used to form the seatbase of a seat. The latter then comprises two frames 1 disposed in twoplanes inclined with respect to one another, as depicted in FIG. 6.

[0062] In a variant, in order to improve the comfort of the passenger,shaped sections 9 can be provided, fixed on the rods 2, 3 of a frame 1for a seat back. These shaped sections 9 have for example a longitudinalsubstantially flat part made immovably attached to the rod 2, 3, of theframe and projecting substantially perpendicular to the plane formed bythe frame 1 in the direction of the seat base of the seat.

[0063] The projecting part of each shaped section 9 is larger towardsthe lower part of the frame in order to provide a better support for theback of the passenger.

[0064] In the embodiment depicted, the articulation shaft 5 is fixed byscrews and bolts onto the lower ends of the rods of said frame.

[0065] However, other means of fixing can be provided such as byriveting or similar.

[0066] The frame 1 depicted in the figures is tubular, and the shaft 5has two radial arms 10 fitting into the lower parts 2 b, 3 b of therods. Once inserted, the arms 10 are made immovably attached by screwsand bolts or similar to the rods 2, 3.

[0067] In order to cover the seat back and/or seat base structure andimprove the comfort of the passenger, said structure comprises aprotective cover 11 which can for example be foam-lined and which isslipped over said tubular cloth 6.

[0068] Said protective cover can notably comprise closure means 12ensuring it is held on the seat structure and allowing it to beinstalled and removed easily to change or wash it.

[0069] These closure means are for example Velcro strips, zip fasteners,buttons, or similar.

[0070] These closure means 12 can for example be situated on one sideand on the lower part of the protective cover 11, or on any other partof the protective cover facilitating its being put in place on the frame1 and not interfering with the passenger.

[0071] The method for mounting the seat back structure according to theinvention is now described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the arrowsindicating the directions of mounting of the elements.

[0072] This method comprises the steps consisting in:

[0073] slipping the tubular cloth over the rods 2, 3 of the frame 1 byway of the ends of the rods opposite the cross-member, the articulationshaft 5 being removed, so that the ends opposite the cross-member ofsaid rods are narrowed to facilitate the passage of the tubular cloth 6(FIG. 1);

[0074] fixing the articulation shaft 5 onto the ends opposite thecross-member of the rods in order to move said rods apart and stretchthe tubular cloth laterally (FIG. 2);

[0075] fixing the tubular cloth onto the articulation shaft by means ofattaching said cloth in order to stretch the cloth vertically (FIG. 3).

[0076] The cloth 6 thus provides the function of seat back and/or seatbase back piece, the double thickness of cloth protecting the seatedpassenger from knocks given in the rear of the seat back.

[0077] Where the cloth comprises a single rectangular piece, the methodcomprises the steps consisting in:

[0078] placing the cloth on the frame 1 and assembling the lateral edgesof the cloth by the assembling means 13;

[0079] fixing the tubular cloth onto the articulation shaft by means ofattaching 8 said cloth in order to stretch the cloth vertically (FIG.5).

[0080] The articulation shaft 5 can optionally be removed before theassembly of the cloth by the assembling means 13 in order to facilitatethe assembly of the cloth.

[0081] In one embodiment, with reference to FIG. 3, the method alsocomprises the steps consisting in:

[0082] slipping the foam-lined protective cover over the seat back frameby way of the upper end thereof, the tubular cloth being in place;

[0083] closing said protective cover by said protective cover closuremeans.

[0084] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0085] Other embodiments can be envisaged without departing from thescope of the invention.

[0086] Notably, mounting the tubular cloth 6 by way of the upper part ofthe seat back can be envisaged, and also, the protective cover 11 can beput in place by way of one side of the seat structure.

[0087] The seat back structure can furthermore have a headrest, in whichcase the tubular cloth can cover the part forming the headrest or notcover it, the protective cover on the other hand covering the headrest.

1. An aircraft seat element, comprising: a rigid frame (1) having twosubstantially parallel lateral rods (2, 3) immovably attached rigidly atone of their ends (2 a, 3 a) to a cross-member (4), the other end (2 b,3 b) of said rods being fixed in an articulated manner to a shaft (5),said shaft (5) being removable; a tubular cloth (6) slipped over saidframe (1) and forming the back piece of said seat element, characterisedin that the cloth (6) used is an elastic cloth, the fibres of which havedifferent stiffnesses depending on their direction.
 2. A seat elementaccording to claim l, characterised in that the cloth (6) is aunidirectional elastic cloth disposed so that the direction of theelastic fibres of said cloth is perpendicular to the lateral rods (2, 3)of said seat element.
 3. A seat element according to either of claims 1or 2, characterised in that the cloth (6) comprises two pieces of cloth(6 a, 6 b) of substantially rectangular shape assembled by their lateraledges so as to take the shape of said element.
 4. A seat elementaccording to claim 3, characterised in that the two pieces of cloth (6a, 6 b) are assembled by sewing.
 5. A seat element according to eitherof claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the cloth (6) comprises a singlesubstantially rectangular piece, the lateral edges of which areassembled by assembling means (13).
 6. A seat element according to oneof claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the tubular cloth (6) has, onits lower part (7), means of attachment (8) to the articulation shaft(5) of said element so that said tubular cloth (6) is stretchedvertically on said frame (1).
 7. A seat element according to one ofclaims 1 to 6, characterised in that the articulation shaft (5) is fixedby screws and bolts onto the lower ends (2 b, 3 b) of the rods of saidframe (1).
 8. A seat element according to one of claims 1 to 7,characterised in that it comprises a foam-lined protective cover (11)slipped over said tubular cloth (6).
 9. A seat element according toclaim 8, characterised in that said protective cover (11) comprisesclosure means (12).
 10. A seat element according to one of claims 1 to9, characterised in that said seat element forms the structure of theseat back or of the seat base of the seat.
 11. A method for mounting theseat element according to one of claims 1 to 4 and 6 to 10 when theydepend on claim 3, characterised in that it comprises the stepsconsisting in: slipping the tubular cloth (6) over the rods (2, 3) ofthe frame (1) by way of the ends (2 a, 2 b) of the rods opposite thecross-member, the articulation shaft (5) of said element being removed,so that the ends opposite the cross-member (2 b, 3 b) of said rods arenarrowed to facilitate the passage of the tubular cloth (6); fixing thearticulation shaft (5) of said element onto the ends opposite thecross-member (2 b, 3 b) of the rods in order to move the latter apartand stretch the tubular cloth (6) laterally; fixing the tubular cloth(6) onto the articulation shaft (5) by means of attaching (8) said clothin order to stretch the cloth vertically.
 12. A method for mounting theseat element according to one of claims 1 to 2, 5 and 6 to 10 when theydepend on claim 5, characterised in that it comprises the stepsconsisting in: placing the cloth on the frame 1 and assembling thelateral edges of the cloth by the assembling means (13); fixing thetubular cloth (6) onto the articulation shaft (5) by means of attaching(8) said cloth in order to stretch the cloth vertically.
 13. A mountingmethod according to claims 12 or 13, characterised in that it alsocomprises the steps consisting in: slipping a foam-lined protectivecover (11) over the seat element frame (1) by way of the end thereof onthe same side as the cross-member, the tubular cloth (6) being in place;closing said protective cover (11) by said protective cover closuremeans (12).